Eminent journalist Mizanur Rahman Khan dies aged 53

Mizanur Rahman Khan, eminent journalist and joint editor of the daily Prothom Alo, died while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital on Monday evening.

He was 53. He is survived by his mother, wife, three children, five brothers, and three sisters. He also left behind many other relatives and well-wishers.

Journalist Mizanur Rahman tested positive for the novel coronavirus on 2 December last year. He was admitted to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital on 5 December.

As his physical condition deteriorated at the hospital, he was shifted to the Universal Medical College Hospital in the capital on 10 December.

He received treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital but his condition worsened on Saturday evening, and he was put on life support. He breathed his last at 6:05pm on Monday.

Zahid Ahmed Siddique, a doctor at the Universal Medical College Hospital, said Mizanur Rahman had been undergoing treatment in the hospital's Covid-19 Zone since 10 December last year. Later, he was tested for Covid-19 again on 15 and 16 December and both tests came back negative. Afterwards he was shifted to the hospital's Green Zone.

However, on 28 December, in a CT scan report, it was found that 96% of his lungs were infected with the virus.

Later, on Saturday, his oxygen saturation level increased while his blood pressure fell. He was then put on ventilation support and had a heart attack on Monday evening, leaving him dead.

The noted journalist was born on 31 October 1967 in Nalchity upazila of Jhalakathi district.